Which state has the highest Federal Employees?

California has the highest Federal Employees in 2024, at 150,679, followed by Virginia (147,358) and Maryland (144,497).

Which state has the lowest Federal Employees?

Vermont has the lowest Federal Employees in 2024, at 3,368.

What is the median Federal Employees across US states?

The median is 23,072 across the 50 US states with data in 2024.

Where does this federal government employees by state data come from?

Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Which States Have the Most (and Best-Paid) Federal Employees? 2025 Study - Smart Asset; Federal Civilian Employment - United States Office Of Personnel Management.

State rankings

Federal Government Employees by State

Name: Federal Government Employees by State
Creator: Rankodex

California has the highest Federal Employees in 2024 (150,679), followed by Virginia (147,358) and Maryland (144,497). Vermont has the lowest (3,368).

Politics & Government50 states · 3 metricsUpdated Mar 30, 2025Original page

2 sources

Which States Have the Most (and Best-Paid) Federal Employees? 2025 Study - Smart Asset
Federal Civilian Employment - United States Office Of Personnel Management

Showing

Year 202450 of 51 states

Compare this metric Add to combined ranking Open full map

Adjust wages and incomes for cost of living (2024 prices)Cost-of-living adjustmentConverts wages and incomes to what they would buy at average US prices, so $100k in a cheap state and $100k in an expensive one are not treated as equal.More in the glossary →

Federal Employees, 2024

Darker means higher. Click a place to highlight it.

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All 50 ranked

Highest first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median

23,072

Middle half 11.9K – 42K

Average

36,406

50 states

Highest

150,679

California

Lowest

3,368

Vermont

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

50 states · # = rank by Federal Employees

#
1	California	150,679	3.9	$103,255
2	Virginia	147,358	16.9	$117,962
3	Maryland	144,497	23.4	$137,624
4	Texas	130,686	4.3	$90,254
5	Florida	95,167	4.2	$94,317
6	Georgia	81,366	7.4	$91,260
7	Pennsylvania	66,656	5.1	$90,482
8	Washington	58,508	7.5	$96,660
9	Ohio	56,068	4.8	$99,862
10	New York	54,092	2.8	$90,917
11	North Carolina	51,900	4.8	$89,386
12	Illinois	45,213	3.6	$99,422
13	Oklahoma	42,212	10.4	$79,808
14	Alabama	41,319	8.1	$99,475
15	Colorado	41,167	7.0	$105,985
16	Missouri	37,220	6.0	$79,723
17	Arizona	34,460	4.6	$85,147
18	Utah	33,961	9.9	$77,390
19	Tennessee	32,574	4.6	$77,390
20	Michigan	29,822	3.0	$99,195
21	Massachusetts	25,698	3.7	$107,691
22	South Carolina	24,863	4.6	$87,062
23	Hawaii	24,804	17.3	$94,817
24	Indiana	24,499	3.6	$90,300
25	Kentucky	23,449	5.2	$77,955
26	New Mexico	22,695	10.7	$84,878
27	New Jersey	22,684	2.4	$119,187
28	Oregon	20,952	4.9	$87,062
29	Mississippi	19,690	6.7	$80,649
30	Louisiana	19,486	4.3	$86,962
31	Minnesota	18,183	3.2	$94,305
32	Wisconsin	17,946	3.0	$85,978
33	Kansas	17,824	6.1	$87,062
34	West Virginia	17,301	9.8	$91,916
35	Arkansas	14,269	4.7	$79,904
36	Nevada	13,967	4.4	$88,756
37	Maine	12,717	9.1	$85,295
38	Alaska	11,658	15.9	$95,614
39	Montana	11,353	10.0	$77,390
40	Idaho	10,993	5.6	$77,390
41	Nebraska	10,412	5.3	$87,796
42	Iowa	9,930	3.1	$83,152
43	South Dakota	8,940	9.7	$77,390
44	Rhode Island	8,598	7.8	$108,402
45	Connecticut	7,304	2.0	$104,510
46	Wyoming	6,832	11.7	$75,956
47	North Dakota	5,736	7.3	$82,226
48	New Hampshire	5,208	3.7	$104,788
49	Delaware	3,998	3.9	$93,143
50	Vermont	3,368	5.2	$97,417

What correlates with Federal Employees (2024)?

Pearson r against 2,111 other state metrics sharing at least 30 states. Ranks are read by standing: a better rank counts as higher, whether rank 1 is the best place on a list or the worst. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Federal Employees tend to score higher on these (or rank better)

Army ReservesMilitary Members by State
r = +0.87 · very strong · n = 50
Plot
Army Reserve UnitsArmy Reserve Units by State
r = +0.84 · very strong · n = 50
Plot
Total Reserves All BranchesMilitary Members by State
r = +0.83 · very strong · n = 50
Plot
Active Duty All BranchesMilitary Members by State
r = +0.81 · very strong · n = 50
Plot
Veteran PopulationArmy Reserve Units by State
r = +0.81 · very strong · n = 50
Plot
VeteransDisabled Veteran Benefits by State
r = +0.81 · very strong · n = 50
Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Federal Employees tend to score lower on these (or rank worse)

FTE Convictions RankMost Corrupt StatesA rank: rank 1 is the worst
r = −0.62 · strong · n = 50
Plot
Year JoinedMega Millions States
r = −0.52 · strong · n = 45
Plot
3-Year Re-Incarceration (VADOC)Recidivism Rates by State
r = −0.51 · strong · n = 34
Plot
Total Possible Years of ServiceGovernor Term Limits by State
r = −0.48 · moderate · n = 37
Plot
Off Grid Via Kuhl Safety ScoreOff-Grid Living Legal States
r = −0.48 · moderate · n = 50
Plot
Heating Degree Days per YearClimate by State (1991–2020 Averages)
r = −0.46 · moderate · n = 48
Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest Federal Employees?: California has the highest Federal Employees in 2024, at 150,679, followed by Virginia (147,358) and Maryland (144,497).
Which state has the lowest Federal Employees?: Vermont has the lowest Federal Employees in 2024, at 3,368.
What is the median Federal Employees across US states?: The median is 23,072 across the 50 US states with data in 2024.
Where does this federal government employees by state data come from?: Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Which States Have the Most (and Best-Paid) Federal Employees? 2025 Study - Smart Asset; Federal Civilian Employment - United States Office Of Personnel Management.